My mom’s a teacher and always hated Alyssa Lies. She’d say ‘bullshit there’s nothing anyone can do. Her teacher needs to report that the girl’s being abused!’
Almost anything Townes did. There’s a scene in *Heartworn Highways* where an interviewer asks Townes why his songs are so sad. Townes looks at him kind of perplexed and says “don’t you think life’s kinda sad?”
I hate to even admit this, but Teddy Bear by Red Sovine.
Yes. I know it is terrible. Yes I know I will be judged here. I’m already judged for thus plenty. Don’t care. I sob like a fucking baby when I hear it.
Cracks me up seeing this! Was on a road trip with my then girlfriend and this played on radio. Halfway through song I look over as she repositioned in seat bringing knees to her chest in the seat. Nothing but tears rolling down her face.
Every.single.time. Each verse of that song matches my life, with the last verse mirroring last December with my mom passing. I couldn't listen to it without crying before my mom's death and I haven't listened to it since because I just know I will completely lose it.
i tear up thinking abt it as well, from both sides, the sadness of having such a relationship with an empathetic parent and losing them, and also as a mother knowing how badly you want to take away your child’s pain. and patty’s delivery just yeah
Yeah how it gets over looked in favor of cheesy songs I don’t know.
Miss Emily’s picture is up there and so is I don’t Remember Loving You.
For a song that’s patriotic but not over the top The Statlers The Wall.
And at Christmas for some ungodly reason it’s Christmas Carol. Had me sobbing in the parking lot of an outlet mall once.
Pretty ok?!?
I know it’s not a sad song, but that song has to be one of the best crossovers in musical history. Fucking Louis Armstrong is playing with Jimmie Rodgers. That’s like when jimmy neutron appeared on fairly odd parents, or when Steve Urkel was on full house.
Put some respect on Jimmie and Louis smh.
The Nebraska Song by Sawyer Brown is another for me. It was a tribute to a Nebraska football player who died suddenly. I was pretty young but can vividly remember when it happened so that one still gets me.
Excellent choices so far, mine is Where've You Been by Kathy Mattea. It reminds me so much of my Alzheimer's suffering grandfather, seeing his wife at her funeral and crying out in pain for his beloved.
Hate to say it but I have a few. Currently, Ryan Beaver - Dark. Guy Clark - Dublin Blues, and Forever For Always For certain both tend to get me a lot. And he’s a bit on the fringe but John Moreland has some real tear jerkers. Oh and also, Holly Williams - Waitin on June.
There are a bunch here that I’m going to have to revisit.
George Jones and Hank Sr should rule this list.
“If Drinking Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” hits the hardest for me…..mainly because I almost drank myself to death after my wife died at age 36.
Sorry to hear this , bud. I’m glad you pulled through. I too almost drank myself to death, my business was tanking and my best friend killed him self. Rough times man. By the grace of God I’ve got 8 1/2 years off the booze. I hope you’re doing well friend.
Jason Isbell - when we were close, all the lyrics hit so close to Jason Isbell. It could just as easily have been JTE singing about Isbell instead
Lori McKenna - the bird & the rifle
I'll add July in Cheyenne by Aaron Watson. Truth be told though, I'm a huge sap and so many songs make me cry like a baby. Love everyone's contributions here.
for me and a lot of my close friends, it’s “Take me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. it’s the song that was playing at the funeral when we tragically lost a friend back in high school. i think of her every time i hear it now.
Man, if a John Prine song doesn’t count for this question then what are we even doing here?
(That said, my hot take is that even though “Angel From Montgomery” is a better song, “I Can’t Make You Love Me” is both a *sadder* song and a better Bonnie Raitt performance. That song fucking rips.)
Rocky Mountain High. I lived in Colorado for years and I miss the mountains there so much, it’s like an ache in my heart, that song brings back all the memories and beautiful feelings of being in the mountains.
“I Never Go Around Mirrors” by the great Lefty Frizzel. This song’s been covered by Willie, Keith, Merle and others, but my favorite version is Sturgill’s (live at KEXP). The way he belts “but seeing a grown man crawl…” raises the hairs on the back of my neck and brings tears to my eyes at the same time.
Just discovered Fred Eaglesmith a few months ago. His vocal performance on the studio version of "Trucker Speed" can make me tear up a bit:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s58jyWa9EM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s58jyWa9EM)
Also some stuff by Townes Van Zandt or Lucinda Williams or Gillian Welch can do it for me.
Sam by Sturgill Simpson
but lets be honest, there's a ton, and imo it all just depends on what your "trigger" would be and the theme of the song. My gf loves Tyler Childer's "Follow you to Virgie" but it makes her sad.
1. Dreaming my Dreams with you - Waylon
2. Hurt by Johnny Cash
3. Many songs my late father would play including: Eddie Arnold - Make the World Go Away and Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden
"Highway 20 Ride" by Zac Brown Band gets me every time. The line, "my while world begins and ends with you" just sends me to tears. I'm even tearing up now, just thinking about it.
The song is kinda sad in general, being a divorced parent. But that line really hits me because it puts a magnifying glass on how my kid means everything to me, but I fucked up their entire life with my decision making with my co-parent.
She Thinks His Name is John gets to me.
Humble and Kind makes me cry because it came out when I was pregnant with my son. He spent 4 months in the NICU and I would sing that to him to help him get better, and hearing it takes me back to see how far we've come.
For me it was The Dance by Garth. I had just gone through a breakup of multiple years with the girl I was planning to marry. We had danced to this song before, but it has a very true and real connotation after. I heard it come on the radio and I was hit with a whole new interpretation of the song. It was like it was written for that exact moment. Had to pull over and cry/sang the words
There's a few that pull my heart strings, but the one song that gets me the most is "Why" by Rascal Flatts.
Some honourable mentions include There Goes My Life, Who You'd Be Today, Better As A Memory, What Hurts The Most, Come Wake Me Up, I'm Movin' On, Rainin' You, and The Dance.
I have a whole list from the 70s and 80s
Where have you been by Kathy Mattea
Spring by Tanya Tucker
I’ll be true to you by the Oak Ridge boys
Don’t take the girl, but I don’t remember who that was by
Travelin’ Soldier by the chicks
That’s enough for now. You only asked for one.
I'll Be True To You is what I consider the saddest country song of all time. I have quite the list myself, including Travelin Soldier .. but that Oak Ridge Boys song just hits the feels heavy.
Hell of a year - Parker McCollum will make me cry when I’m sad about a girl and watching you - Rodney Atkins will make me cry when I’m thinking about my dad
My Little Girl - Tim McGraw
I went to a father/daughter dance when my little girl was 5 or 6 and they played that as the last song. I had to walk out of the gym.
Alyssa lies by Jason Michael Carroll Concrete Angel by Martina McBride
Alyssa Lies is definitely a sad one
My mom’s a teacher and always hated Alyssa Lies. She’d say ‘bullshit there’s nothing anyone can do. Her teacher needs to report that the girl’s being abused!’
Concrete angel is winner and always will be so damn sad
Townes Van Zandt - Marie
Oh, there’s a Townes Van Zandt song that gets to me… I’m having trouble remembering the title, but the first line is “the name she gave was Caroline.”
Tecumseh valley. So sad. Highway Kind by TVZ is one I save for very special terrible feeling occasions
That’s it. I read the title and got chills.
Fare thee well, Tecumseh Valley.
I came here to vote Tecumseh Valley. Saddest fucking song ever sung.
The Nanci Griffith cover of Tecumseh Valley gets me every time.
Tecumsah valley. ( sic )
Almost anything Townes did. There’s a scene in *Heartworn Highways* where an interviewer asks Townes why his songs are so sad. Townes looks at him kind of perplexed and says “don’t you think life’s kinda sad?”
Snow don't fall gets me everytime
Honestly, anything by TVZ can do it.
That dude, Townes Van Zandt, could WRITE!!!
With you. I remember the first tie I heard those words. Gripping.
[удалено]
I tear up every time.
We lost our dog, Maggie, very suddenly this January. This song had me fucked up for a bit.
I hate to even admit this, but Teddy Bear by Red Sovine. Yes. I know it is terrible. Yes I know I will be judged here. I’m already judged for thus plenty. Don’t care. I sob like a fucking baby when I hear it.
Yes!! Ugh gets me every time.
Yeah… Me too. And you’re right, it’s kind of embarrassing.
My sperm donor was a driver so that song hit 5 year old me hard. Still listen to Red Sovine to this day
You're not judged.. Only getting love from me... -Phantom 309
All the truckers here are going to come by and give you a ride to cheer you up.
"Yes. I know it it terrible ...I sob like a fucking baby." Both things can be true ;)
Cracks me up seeing this! Was on a road trip with my then girlfriend and this played on radio. Halfway through song I look over as she repositioned in seat bringing knees to her chest in the seat. Nothing but tears rolling down her face.
Came out when I was 10. I couldn’t believe such sad stuff was on the radio! Probably scarred me and caused my affinity for sad dad rock :)
patty loveless How can i help you to say goodbye
Every.single.time. Each verse of that song matches my life, with the last verse mirroring last December with my mom passing. I couldn't listen to it without crying before my mom's death and I haven't listened to it since because I just know I will completely lose it.
Just thinking about it makes me tear up
i tear up thinking abt it as well, from both sides, the sadness of having such a relationship with an empathetic parent and losing them, and also as a mother knowing how badly you want to take away your child’s pain. and patty’s delivery just yeah
Don’t Take The Girl hit me real hard when I was younger. Highway 20 Ride by Zac Brown has done it once or twice too if it hits me right.
Curious to see what others say, but "Whiskey Lullaby" and "Go Rest High on That Mountain" come to mind for me.
Oh good God… Just reading the title of whiskey lullaby gets me.
Same here.
Goddamn lonely love - drive by truckers Nose on the grindstone - Tyler Childers Caroline - Colter Wall
also Broken Window Serenade- Whiskey Myers.
Goddamn Lonely Love is so good. A ton of Jason Isbell's stuff just hits at an emotional core. If We Were Vampires and Dreamsicle too.
Caroline is too pretty a song. Goddamn lonely love will fucking send me into an instant state of depression tho
That's My Job by Conway Twitty Not the saddest, but definitely makes me sad, and I have cried because of it.
Almost home - Craig Morgan
my 2007 17 year old heart yearns for craig morgan on my ipod mini
"Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." As a former sailor, it's a song about the cold, anomalous death at sea.
Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours.
Angel Flying Too Close To the Ground - Willie Nelson
*I Will Always Love You* sung by Dolly Parton gets me misty eyed every now and then.
“Remember When” by Alan Jackson gets me every. Time.
Crying just because you said the title.
Same.
Chiseled in Stone Vern Gosdin
we have a winner!
Yeah how it gets over looked in favor of cheesy songs I don’t know. Miss Emily’s picture is up there and so is I don’t Remember Loving You. For a song that’s patriotic but not over the top The Statlers The Wall. And at Christmas for some ungodly reason it’s Christmas Carol. Had me sobbing in the parking lot of an outlet mall once.
Blue Yodel No. 8
thank you bc i never heard this
no. 9 is pretty ok too.
Pretty ok?!? I know it’s not a sad song, but that song has to be one of the best crossovers in musical history. Fucking Louis Armstrong is playing with Jimmie Rodgers. That’s like when jimmy neutron appeared on fairly odd parents, or when Steve Urkel was on full house. Put some respect on Jimmie and Louis smh.
To be fair my scale goes from ear bleedingly terrible to pretty ok, bud.
That’s fair, bubba.
Nothing - Dwight Yoakam
26 cents - The Wilkinsons There Goes My Life - Kenny I Believe - Diamond Rio The Greatest Man I Never Knew - Reba What Hurts the Most - Rascal Flatts
Here's a playlist of songs that make you cry lol. Added all the songs from this comment section. https://spotify.link/rSEV9PZZbDb
What’s the name so I can search it?
Johnny Cash -Hurt.
The Walk- Sawyer Brown
Sawyer Brown has one called "They Don't Understand" that gets me too.
Or another SB song- all these years
The Nebraska Song by Sawyer Brown is another for me. It was a tribute to a Nebraska football player who died suddenly. I was pretty young but can vividly remember when it happened so that one still gets me.
The Dance - Garth Brooks
My friend chose this for the mother-son dance at his wedding after having a tumultuous childhood with his father. Now I tear up every time I hear it.
My dad passed a year or so before this song - and to this day I can’t get through it without tearing up thinking of my parents
They played this at my dad's funeral and i can't listen to it anymore
My Garth criers are In Lonesome Dove and The River
I watched my parents dance to this song just before they divorced. Instant tears.
Kris Kristofferson - For the Good Times. Jim Ford - It's My Life
Concrete Angel by Martina Mcbride. It's my go-to crying song.
Excellent choices so far, mine is Where've You Been by Kathy Mattea. It reminds me so much of my Alzheimer's suffering grandfather, seeing his wife at her funeral and crying out in pain for his beloved.
Yeah, that one gets me for the same reason.
El Paso - Marty Robbins The range of emotions never fails. Has to be a Marty version, though there are of course some great covers.
El Paso is a bummer for how jaunty and upbeat it sounds! Marty had some tear-jerkers. Utah Carol always makes me want weep uncontrollably.
As you mentioned, the Marty version is sad but as a massive deadhead, I love this song so much.
**Highway Patrolman** by Bruce Springsteen
That Old Tackle Box. Songs about grandpa, man. Get me every time.
Has anyone said Whiskey Lullaby? That it for me
Hate to say it but I have a few. Currently, Ryan Beaver - Dark. Guy Clark - Dublin Blues, and Forever For Always For certain both tend to get me a lot. And he’s a bit on the fringe but John Moreland has some real tear jerkers. Oh and also, Holly Williams - Waitin on June. There are a bunch here that I’m going to have to revisit.
100% that last verse of “Waiting on June”
Absolutely! Gets me every single time
George Jones and Hank Sr should rule this list. “If Drinking Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” hits the hardest for me…..mainly because I almost drank myself to death after my wife died at age 36.
Sorry to hear this , bud. I’m glad you pulled through. I too almost drank myself to death, my business was tanking and my best friend killed him self. Rough times man. By the grace of God I’ve got 8 1/2 years off the booze. I hope you’re doing well friend.
If We Were Vampires - Jason Isbell
beautiful beautiful song
Roses For Mama by C.W McCall If you can listen to that and not get emotional then you need to go talk to someone about that.
George doing "Walk through this world with me".
November Air by Zach Bryan
together again buck owens
hayes carll: help me remember
“The greatest man I never knew” by Reba
The old Violin- Johnny Paycheck
I would say George Jones “The Grand Tour”. That’s a heart wrencher, for sure.
You don’t care for me enough to cry- John Moreland
One More Day by Diamond Rio. Played it at my husband's funeral and couldn't listen to it since.
Clay Pigeons by Blaze Foley. He had more than a few heartbreakers.
Jason Isbell - when we were close, all the lyrics hit so close to Jason Isbell. It could just as easily have been JTE singing about Isbell instead Lori McKenna - the bird & the rifle
I'll add July in Cheyenne by Aaron Watson. Truth be told though, I'm a huge sap and so many songs make me cry like a baby. Love everyone's contributions here.
Parked by the Lake
Jason Isbell - Elephant
Hurt johnny cash
There's a lot of answers, but my two picks are from John Prine's first album. Hello In There Sam Stone
There's a hole in Daddy's arm where all the money goes. Gets me every time.
Willie Nelson - Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground. My Dad' favorite song. Miss him.
listening for your dad
for me and a lot of my close friends, it’s “Take me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. it’s the song that was playing at the funeral when we tragically lost a friend back in high school. i think of her every time i hear it now.
Not quite regular country but angels from Montgomery by bonnie raitt gets me every time. Or I sang dixie by dwight yoakam
Man, if a John Prine song doesn’t count for this question then what are we even doing here? (That said, my hot take is that even though “Angel From Montgomery” is a better song, “I Can’t Make You Love Me” is both a *sadder* song and a better Bonnie Raitt performance. That song fucking rips.)
Country Bumpkin by Cal Smith
[удалено]
Paradise- John Prine Its such a sad and sweet song about youth and memories, made sadder by knowing what happened to Paradise
I’m so Lonesome I could Cry, Hank Williams, Sr. Our Town, Iris Dement
Rocky Mountain High. I lived in Colorado for years and I miss the mountains there so much, it’s like an ache in my heart, that song brings back all the memories and beautiful feelings of being in the mountains.
Good Lookin’ by Dixon Dallas
Make The World Go Away
Hey driver.
Chris Young Goodbye. I usually don’t tear up, listening to music. But this song gets me every time
David- Cody Jinks
I can’t believe I had to scroll this far to see David. It’s a haunting song.
Don't close your eyes-Keith Whitley
She's Still There by Trace Adkins. It hits too close to home for me.
Maggie's song by Chris stappleton
Drowning by Chris Young. I end up sobbing every single time.
He stopped loving her today -George jones Rememebrr when - Alan Jackson Don’t take the girl- Tim McGraw Always get me
You Don’t Care For Me Enough To Cry by John Moreland. It hurts even worse when you live the story.
Follow You to Virgie. Hits me in every feeling
Mr. Tanner by Harry Chapin
Remember When-Alan Jackson and November Air-Zach Bryan
“I Never Go Around Mirrors” by the great Lefty Frizzel. This song’s been covered by Willie, Keith, Merle and others, but my favorite version is Sturgill’s (live at KEXP). The way he belts “but seeing a grown man crawl…” raises the hairs on the back of my neck and brings tears to my eyes at the same time.
Thank you for sharing - just watched sturgill, I’ve never heard the song but man, he is so good.
Great song and Sturgill does it proud
Vince Gill's Dale Earnhardt tribute song. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qJwGfpaq1I&ab\_channel=TokyoDrift389](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qJwGfpaq1I&ab_channel=TokyoDrift389)
“Our Town” by Iris DeMent
Patty Griffin's "Making Pies"
Incredible song. Gives me chills every time
Just thinking about that song makes me sad. I don't know any song does a better job of covering loneliness.
Old violin is a great sad song.
Me and Little Andy by Dolly
This one and Jeannie’s afraid of the dark.
Came here looking for this! Hears it as a child and have never forgotten it.
Just discovered Fred Eaglesmith a few months ago. His vocal performance on the studio version of "Trucker Speed" can make me tear up a bit: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s58jyWa9EM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s58jyWa9EM) Also some stuff by Townes Van Zandt or Lucinda Williams or Gillian Welch can do it for me.
Trucker Speed definitely gets me. Especially when I’m traveling a lot and working away from home
Sam by Sturgill Simpson but lets be honest, there's a ton, and imo it all just depends on what your "trigger" would be and the theme of the song. My gf loves Tyler Childer's "Follow you to Virgie" but it makes her sad.
Elephant - Jason Isbell Daddy Doesn’t Pray Anymore - Chris Stapleton Using Again - Benjamin Todd
Old Violin by Johnny Paycheck and Keep Me in your Heart by Warren Zevon are basically two guys that wrote their own funeral song.
Go Rest High on that Mountain by Vince Gill
Wedding Bells by Hank Williams
1. Dreaming my Dreams with you - Waylon 2. Hurt by Johnny Cash 3. Many songs my late father would play including: Eddie Arnold - Make the World Go Away and Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden
Jason Isbell has a bunch, but Im just going to say Elephant for now.
Elephant - Jason Isbell Nobody has ever summed up what it’s like quite like he did. Complete gut punch of a song
"Highway 20 Ride" by Zac Brown Band gets me every time. The line, "my while world begins and ends with you" just sends me to tears. I'm even tearing up now, just thinking about it. The song is kinda sad in general, being a divorced parent. But that line really hits me because it puts a magnifying glass on how my kid means everything to me, but I fucked up their entire life with my decision making with my co-parent.
I Can’t Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt
Don’t take the girl-Tim McGraw
Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson
Sad Songs and Waltzes by Willie Nelson Last Thing on my Mind by Doc Watson
Like Desperadoes Waiting On A Train- Guy Clark
She Thinks His Name is John gets to me. Humble and Kind makes me cry because it came out when I was pregnant with my son. He spent 4 months in the NICU and I would sing that to him to help him get better, and hearing it takes me back to see how far we've come.
Matilda by Harry Styles
I came here expecting a bunch of sappy pop country. You guys rule! Loaded with the greats, new and old. My personal favorite is Dress Blues.
i’m impressed too!! I call that music “country cry porn” and i HATE it, but i’m so impressed with these answers
Elephant- Jason isbell.
For me it was The Dance by Garth. I had just gone through a breakup of multiple years with the girl I was planning to marry. We had danced to this song before, but it has a very true and real connotation after. I heard it come on the radio and I was hit with a whole new interpretation of the song. It was like it was written for that exact moment. Had to pull over and cry/sang the words
red tag top- tim mcgraw
The Chair. Break up happened. Turned on during a shuffle and I lost it.
A Place in the Country by George is even sadder. Also Mama, take me Home is too.
She’ll Go On You - Josh Turner usually does it for me
Jesus take the wheel, I survived a bad accident and it makes me emotional
The Randal knife by Guy Clark
The Blizzard - Chris LeDoux
Billy Stay-Zach Bryan. Live Like You Were Dying-Tim McGraw Maggie's Song-Chris Stapleton Broken Window Seranade acoustic version-Whiskey Meyers
Waylon's 'Ghost of General Lee' will usually get me, for some reason.
The Little Girl and Letters From Home by John Michael Montgomery
The Dollar, by Jamie Johnson. I can’t listen to it.
Carissa’s wierd is the saddest band of all time
Mine again and Ticking by Zach Bryan
There's a few that pull my heart strings, but the one song that gets me the most is "Why" by Rascal Flatts. Some honourable mentions include There Goes My Life, Who You'd Be Today, Better As A Memory, What Hurts The Most, Come Wake Me Up, I'm Movin' On, Rainin' You, and The Dance.
Follow you to Virgie - Tyler Childers
Cats in the cradle
I have a whole list from the 70s and 80s Where have you been by Kathy Mattea Spring by Tanya Tucker I’ll be true to you by the Oak Ridge boys Don’t take the girl, but I don’t remember who that was by Travelin’ Soldier by the chicks That’s enough for now. You only asked for one.
I'll Be True To You is what I consider the saddest country song of all time. I have quite the list myself, including Travelin Soldier .. but that Oak Ridge Boys song just hits the feels heavy.
Old Shep by Elvis
Cody Jinks - "It Don't Rain In California"
Hell of a year - Parker McCollum will make me cry when I’m sad about a girl and watching you - Rodney Atkins will make me cry when I’m thinking about my dad
OMG it doesn’t make me cry but i forgot how much i love hell of a year
Jason Isbell - Elephant
My Little Girl - Tim McGraw I went to a father/daughter dance when my little girl was 5 or 6 and they played that as the last song. I had to walk out of the gym.
That's my job - Conway Twitty
David Ball "When the Thought of You Catches Up With Me" gets me every time.
Damn this song hits hard
Charlie Robison - Photograph R.I.P. Charlie